Reversible and interchangeable stocking top



March 16 1926.

A. E. SANBORN REVERSIBLE AND INTERcHANGE-ABLE sTocKING TOP' Fild QC. 18, 1,924

1,577,368 PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT E. SANBORN, OF LACONIA, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

REVERSIBLE ANiD vIINTE:ECHANGEAIBLIEI STOCKING T01?.

Application led October 18, 1924. Serial No. 744,373.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT E. SANBORN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Laconia, in the county of Belknap and State of New Hampshire, have invented new and useful Improvements in Reversible and Interchangeable Stocking Tops, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in stocking tops of that type which are separate from and independent of the leg of a stocking, and particularly to a reversible and interchangeable top for golf stockings and other fancy or so-called sport hose.

One object of the invention is to provide a stocking top having a pair of display portions or sections of different patterns, colors or finishes, and adapted to be reversed so that either display portion or section may be exposed for use, enabling the wearer to make corresponding changes in the appearance of the top and the general appearance of the stocking.

A. further object 'of the invention is to provide a reversible and interchangeable stocking top which may be used in connection with a full length stocking extending above the knee, thus securing comfort to the wearer and preventing exposure of the limb or undergarments in cold weather.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a stocking top of the character described which is adjustable up or down on the leg, so that the top may be positioned properly on the leg, so as to suit the length of the leg of the wearer and the length of the knickerbockers or short-length trousers employed, in order that a most dressy or ornamental effect may be obtained.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a stocking top composed of connected inner and outer reversible portions or sections and having a garter held betweeny them and in position to be employed for supporting the stocking top in the use of the top with either of its sections exposed.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a stocking top which is adaptable for use with plain stockings to convert the same into sport hose, and which obviatesthe necessity ofthe wearer keeping a large number of sport stockings with fixed tops on hand for a change of style or pattern from day to day, the invention allowing the same advantage and effect to be secured by the use of less expensive stockings in connection with tops capable of being interchangeably struction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a view illustrating the application of my im'proved stocking top to a pair of hose, with one of the top sections exposed. for use, a portion of the stocking top being broken away to show the interior construction.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the stocking top as shown in Figure l removed from the stocking. e

Figure 3 is a view, mainly in vertical section, of the stocking top as shown in Figures 1 and 2. y

Figure l is a view similar to Figure 2 of the stocking top reversed to expose the other section thereof. c

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 of the stocking top as shown in Figure 4.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, l designates a stocking, of full length type in connection with which the invention may be used, said stocking having the top portion 2 to extend above the knee of the wearer.

The improved stocking top .3 embodying my inventioncomprises a band adapted to embrace the leg and overlie the stocking l,

vsaid band comprising two or more (at least two) tubular members, portions or sections, each knitted or otherwise suitably formed. In the present instance two such tubular members or sections 4C and 5 are shown. One or the other of these sections is normally arranged within and enclosed by the other, said sections lying close to each other and in concentric relationship. Each section is provided with a selvaged upper edge and the selvaged upper edges of the two sections are united by sewing or otherwise seaming them together at the bight or fold line 6, forming the turned upper edge of the improved top.

Each section 4 and 5 is provided with a finished surface and an unfinished surface. The section 4, for example, is provided with a finished surface 7 and an unfinished surface 8, while the section 5 is provided with a finished surface 9 and an unfinished surf 9 to face in opposite directions.

face 10. In other words, the Section 4 is provided with an obverse display face 7 of a desired color, pattern or distinctive appearance, and the section 5 with an obverse dis lay face 9 of a color, pattern or finish di ering from or contrasting with that of the face 7 of the section 4.` The inner or reverse sides 8 and 10 of these respective sections 4 and 5 are so arran ed as to be always concealed and may constltute the raw or unfinished sides ofy the respective patterns. I

The unfinished surfaces 8 and 10 of the two sections 4 and 5 are arranged to face each other, thus disposing the surfaces 7 and Thus it will be understood that when the nished side 7 of the Section 4 is disposed on the outer side of the stocking top to form the display face of said top, as shown 1n Figures l, 2 and 3, the surface 9 of the sectlon 5 will be disposed on the inner side of the complete top, and, when the top is reversed or turned inside out, as shown in Flgures 4 and 5, the Surface 9 of the section 5'w'1ll form the display surface of the top while the surface 8 of the section 4 will assume the inner position formerly assumed by the sur\ face l0 Lof the section 5, It will .be apparent from this that when the surface 7 is exposed for use, a stocking top having a drsplay face of a certain color or pattern will be presented, while, when the top is reversed to bring the surface 9 in position as the display face, a display surface of a contrasting color, pattern or nish. from that ofthe face 7 will be presented. This change in-the style or pattern and appearance of the stocking top is accomplished by simply turning the same insideiout from the condition Shown in Figures l, 2 and 3, or from that shown in Figures 4 and 5, providing a stocking top having two distinctive display surfaces, either of which may be disposed in position for use.

The Limproved stocking top is designed to be used in connection with a full length stocking which may be drawn over the knee, for greater comfort in cold and inclement weather, the top being disposed about the stocking so as to come below the knee in the manner in which ornamental stocking tops, like those of golf or sport hose, are commonly worn.- This allows any type of plain stocking to ,be worn in conjunction with an ornamental stockingtop having two distinct pattern or style faces, either of which may be used as desired,'with the lresult of not only presenting a different effect of stock` ing top but also changing the general ap? pearance of the stocking. The stocking top is slidably adjustable on the leg, so that it may be positioned different distances below the knee according to the length vof thev knickerbockers or shortl trousers worn by the user, allowing a proper finish at the edges of the trousers to be secured, impossible with stockings of the type having fixed ornamental stocking tops. Any suitable type of garter or support for holdin the stocking top in positlon may be emp oyed. In the present instance I have shown the useV of a preferred type, comprising an elastic garter band 11, held between the two top sections 4 and 5 adjacent to the bight or fold line 6,

stocking top in position to display the surface 7 on one day oron one occasion and then reversedv4 by turning it inside out to present the display surface 9, which may also be a knitted attern in plain or contrasting colors.l I o not limit'myself, however, to the nature or character `of the inished surfaces of the sections 4 and y5, as such sections may be simply plain knitted in different colors to present display surfaces V7 and 9 of different solid colors, or theyv may be'of different variegated colors, or they may be'o'different figures or patterns, or a combination ofany of these. The user may, by means of a' single stockin scribed use thisr stocking top in connection with a single pair of stockings or morex than one'pair of stockings to give the effect of changed stockings with different stocking tops, and, by the use oftwo or more Stockf lng tops of various styles, colors or patterns, may makey as many changes as desired to give the effect of the possession of a numberv top of the construction den:

of stockings differing in general appearance from leach other and with a wide range of contrast in stocking top designs. f Stocking tops of `this character may b made for the use of men, women and children for converting ordinary hose of suit able character into sport hose with fancy tops with economy in enabling the wearer to use plain hose which-are less costly than sport hose with fixed fancy tops, and in enabling the wearer also to change the appearance of' a single pair of hose vat different times and on different occasions, avoiding the necessity of purchasing a plurality of prs of hose for the purpose. The invention is also of advantage in enabling full bockers terminate above the knee, to cover the bare flesh and prevent unsightly exposure of' underwear. This advantage will also be one appreciated by golf players whose trousers are too short, and, in the event that the trousers are too long, a further advantage is gained in that the wearer may adjust the stocking tops on the legs to suit the length of the trousers and to give a proper finish at the trousers ends. By the use of a garter of the type shown and arranged within the stocking top as described, the necessity of employing cumbersome garters liable to tear the stockings or injure the flesh will also be avoided. Other advantages will be readily apparent to those versed n in the art without a further and lextended description.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim:

A duplex stocking top formed separately from a stocking and adjustable upwardly and downwardly thereon, said stocking top comprising two separately knitted tubular members seamed at their relatively upper edges to each other and lying one within the other and concentrically with relation to each other, each tubular member having a pattern side knit therewith and araw vor unfinished side, the pattern sides of the respective tubular members normally lying one on the outer face and the other on the inner face of the duplex top, and said pattern sides being of contrasting design and appearance, whereby one pattern side is normally displayed and by turning the duplex p top inside out the positions of the pattern sides will be reversed for display of the other pattern'side In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ALBERT E. sANiaoRN. 

